Anti-Nuclear Movements

Neil Lund

2024-10-03

Nuclear power

Nuclear Power

Anti-Nuclear Movement

  • Early coverage overwhelming positive

  • First protests arise in Europe in 1950s (but not focused on energy)

  • Peak in the late 1970s

France

  • 1958: Lanza Del Vasto and followers protest construction of a nuclear bomb near a commune in southern France

  • 1960s: mass (mostly peaceful) protests focus opposition to nuclear energy as part of broader environmental movement

  • 1970s: “only electricity, only nuclear power” becomes policy in 1974

  • Later 1970s: Mass civil disobedience and some violent confrontations with police

France

  • 1977: mass multinational protest at Creys-Malville ends with a protester killed and three maimed

  • Malville incident undermines the movement, and is portrayed in the right wing press as the work of “outside agitators” (especially the West German left)

  • Francois Mitterrand pledges a referendum, then promptly breaks his promise

US

  • 1950s/1960s: mixed/positive views among environmentalists

  • Early 1970s: energy crisis makes nuclear energy more viable

    • The Sierra Club (after an internal struggle) declares opposition to nuclear power
  • Later 1970s: strategy of pursuing legal/regulatory challenges to the construction of new plants leads to delays

  • Activists adopt civil disobedience in later 1970s (Seabrook)

  • Three Mile Island characterized as the “deathblow” for the pro-nuclear side

US

US

Germany

  • Minimal opposition through early 70s

  • 1975: Peaceful occupation of planned site at Wyhl lasts 10 months and inspires imitators in Brokdog and Grohnde

    • Far more violent response from police at latter occupations, which led to further escalation from activists
  • Later 1970s sees elite and mass polarization, and the rise of electorally effective Green parties

  • Social Democrats, Liberal Party, and unions adopt anti-nuclear positions by 1980s

Sweden

  • Opposition to nuclear power picks up in the 1970s

  • The Centre Party, by 1976, adds a nuclear phaseout to their platform

  • Phaseout referendum in 1980 decides no future reactors will be constructed